Gordon Ryan showed up dressed like a king. Blanca Marisa Garcia
Day 2 of the World IBJJF No-Gi Championship, this Saturday, was one of intense action. The kickoff to the adult black belt divisions rocked the audience in Anaheim, and well-known names were victorious alongside new and hungry athletes — all headed for the finals this Sunday, Dec. 16.
In the men’s absolute division, the always entertaining Gordon Ryan stood out. Having secured a spot in the ultra-heavyweight semifinals earlier, the American representing Renzo Gracie Academy went into the absolute and defeated Patrick Gáudio and Jackson Sousa. He will be fighting for gold against Yuri Simões of CTA, who beat Thiago Sá in their semifinal match. Before the absolute final takes place, Gordon and Yuri will face off with the ultra-heavyweight title on the line.
In the women’s absolute, Bia Mesquita and Jéssica Flowers will each try to be the only female double gold winner. Bia earned her spot in two finals and will be facing Ana Carolina Vieira for the middleweight crown. Jéssica, before doing the absolute final, will have Nivia Moura as her opponent in the super-heavyweight final.
Read on to find out Sunday’s finalists.
Men’s semifinals
ROOSTER
Cícero Saldanha vs. Kristian Woodman
Nobuhiro Sawada vs. Ronald Stephen
LIGHT FEATHER
Cleber “Clandestino” vs. João Miyao
Hiago George vs. Tomoyuki Hashimoto
FEATHER
Kennedy Maciel vs. Pablo Mantovani
Ian Sanders vs. Gilson Oliveira
LIGHT
Marcio André vs. Frederico Augusto
Gianni Grippo vs. Rodrigo Freitas
MIDDLE
Hugo Marques vs. Manuel Ribamar
Jaime Canuto vs. Dante Leon
MEDIUM HEAVY
Matheus Diniz vs. Josh Hinger
Marcos Tinoco vs. Murilo Santana
HEAVY
Tim Spriggs vs. Thiago Sá
Jackson Sousa vs. Devonthe Johnson
SUPER-HEAVY
Kaynan Duarte vs. Patrick Gaudio
James Puopolo vs. Eliot Kelly
ULTRA-HEAVY
Gordon Ryan vs. Yuri Simões
Roberto Cyborg vs. Max Gimenis
ABSOLUTE FINAL
Yuri Simões vs. Gordon Ryan
Women’s finals
LIGHT FEATHER
Mayssa Caldas vs. Patrícia Fontes
FEATHER
Amanda Monteiro vs. Ffion Davies
LIGHT
Tammi Musumeci vs. Catherine Perret
MIDDLE
Bia Mesquita vs. Ana Carolina Vieira
MEDIUM HEAVY
Cláudia do Val vs. Luanna Alzuguir
HEAVY
Nathiely de Jesus vs. Maria Malyjasiak
SUPER-HEAVY
Jessica Flowers vs. Nivia Moura
ABSOLUTE
Bia Mesquita vs. Jessica Flowers